TOP 5 RICHEST MEN IN HIP HOP

Sean John is the closest to becoming a billionaire, with a net worth of $550 million. his knack for self-promotion and outside business deals with Ciroc vodka, Sean John, Enyce, Blue Flame and other tech start ups.

He’s not even done. Diddy signed a deal with Comcast to launch cable channel Revolt in 2013. He’ll own the channel outright.

Jay-Z is #2 at $460 million. He still churns out music and goes on tours, most recently with pal Kanye West.

He sold his Rocawear clothing label for $204 million in 2007, signed a 10-year $150M deal with Live Nation in 2008, and co-owns the New Jersey Nets.

There’s also his 40/40 Club chain, his ad firm Translation, cosmetics company Carol’s Daughter and other businesses too numerous to list.

Dr. Dre ranks third with $270 million, boosted by the sale of a 51% stake in Beats Electronics – a company he founded with Jimmy Iovine – to HTC.

Sources say each owned a third of the company before the deal, placing Dre’s cut at $85 million after taxes.

Birdman clocks in at No. 4 with a fortune of $125 million. He cofounded Cash Money Records with brother Ronald “Slim” Williams.

The label’s value soared with the success of rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne (who shares ownership of sub-label Young Money).

50 Cent and his $110 million rank fifth. The business-savvy Queens-born rapper earned $100 million for his Vitaminwater stake alone in 2007.

50 cent also made tens of millions from touring, record sales and clothing, but spends freely on cars and renovations to his mansion in Connecticut.

Still, a nice nine-figure cushion remains from his back catalog, acting gigs and 50 Cent themed videogames, shoes and books, and headphone line SMS.